TREATMENT PLAN & PROGNOSIS
TREATMENT PLAN
- Behavioural support combined with medications
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT):
- Can start on quitting day
- Patches (16/24 hour)
- Can be combined with fast-acting products like lozenges and mouth sprays to help with breakthrough urges
- Follow-up: 2 weeks
- Duration: 8-12 weeks, can extend to 3 months
- Side effects: headaches, dizziness, palpitations, hyperhidrosis
- Safe in pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18s
- Oral forms: avoid acidic solutions/caffeine 15 mins before
- Varenicline:
- Currently unavailable
- Start 7-14 days pre-quit
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Contraindicated: pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18s
- Follow-up: 3-4 weeks
- Bupropion:
- Start 7-14 days pre-quit
- Duration: 7 weeks
- Contraindicated: pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18s
- Follow-up: 3-4 weeks
- BP monitoring required
**For all three methods: Carbon monoxide levels checked at 4 weeks
PROGNOSIS
Benefits timeline:
- 20 mins: normalised pulse
- 8 hrs: normal oxygen levels, halved carbon monoxide
- 48 hrs: carbon monoxide eliminated
- 72 hrs: improved breathing
- 2-12 weeks: improved circulation
- 3-9 months: reduced cough/wheeze
- 1 year: halve MI risk
- 10 years: halve lung cancer risk
- 15 years: MI risk equals that of a non-smoker